occasion. ANOTHER "Psalm and Song," by David, the sweet singer of Title and Israel. As David's days of adversity furnished many occasions for appropriate Psalms, which the Son of David and his Church were afterwards to use in their times of trial, so the more prosperous season, when the Ark which had been removed in procession by David to Mount Zion, was and afterwards by Solomon carried up to Moriah, seems to have provided a fit occasion for this triumphant song. It has been called "The magnificent march." Certainly it is throughout a tracing of the stately steps of the Lord in his goings forth for His Church, from the Wilderness onward to final rest. The plan is as follows: Ver. 1-3. Prefatory strains, celebrating Jehovah as almighty to scatter foes, almighty to make friends exult with joy. Ver. 4-6. General characteristics of his ways-grace to the helpless-to all that do not reject his help. Ver. 7-9. His ways, with Israel in the Wilderness-glorious Ver. 10-14. His ways, in bringing Israel into Canaan-the Ver. 18-23. His ways, in the typical setting forth on Zion Ver. 24-31. His ways, in the Ark removed afterwards to the temple on Moriah-Israel gathered round it (ver. 26, 27), and the Gentiles flocking to Shiloh there (ver. 29, 31). All this typical of the Lord's advent, as true Solomon. Ver. 32-35. The closing doxology to the King of kings on reviewing the whole, and seeing "the Kingdom Come." Such seems to be the plan. It would carry us beyond our limits to go into full details, since almost every verse is rich and laden with meaning. A few hints may be of use, however, on some of the more difficult clauses. Some render verse 1 "God shall arise," q. d., it shall always be thus, as they sang Num. x. 35, and Judges v. 31. The plan. Verse 1. In verse the justified ones, singing before their justifier, Verse 1. cry, "Make a way for him that rideth through the wilder Verse 5. Verse 8. Verse 10. Verse 14. or plain; the Angel of the Covenant that redeemed them from all evil. It is their King whom they thus honour, and so they raise the cry, " Prepare the way!" as in Isa. xl. 3, and as the Baptist did when he saw the King of the kingdom at hand. His name "Jah," expresses the fulness of being and perfection; and Horsley would fain add beauty too. In verse 5, Israel's helpless case in Egypt, Earth's helpless case since the Fall, the sinner's state, "without strength," may all be found here. The "widow's judge," implies his managing and ruling the affairs of such as have no other to interpose, like as Gideon, or any judge of Israel, put in order a disordered county, and bore the burden of its cares. does not Jas. i. 21 refer to this verse, for we have “the fatherless," "the widow," and then the "holiness," of the God we serve? And In verse 8 the ratifying of the covenant at Sinai, in circumstances of awful grandeur, is the theme; and verse 9 speaks of the “rain of gifts" (Hengst.) that attended Israel all through the Desert-manna, quails, water from the rock when God's heritage pitched their tents on the flinty and scorched soil of that weary wilderness. Then, in verse 10, the host of Israel "settle down on It,” i. e., the well-known, ever-in-view Land of Promise. The Lord gave the word"-(as in Psa. cv. 19)-as if at every step there had been repeated, like Joshua vi. 16,"Shout, for the Lord has given you the land!" and responding multitudes, even of the women of Israel, proclaim the victory, and sing, as did Miriam at the Red Sea, Kings of armies flee! they flee! And she that tarries at home divides the spoil." (Ver. 12.) So easily does Jehovah conquer! And now, "Ye lie down among the thick-wooded heights of Zalmon (Judg. ix. 48) in the day of tempest.* Israel now at rest, where is the Ark of the Covenant? Not on Bashan, i. e., the range of Antilibanus, though that was a "hill of God," such a hill as reminded one of the power of Him who setteth fast the hills by his might (Hengst.)-nor yet on other lofty hills such as Tabor, Lebanon, or Carmel. The more lowly Zion is selected, and thither the sovereign Lord comes with all his hosts. There he resides, as in a pavilion-in that Holy of Holies which combines the manifestation of justice and mercy at the mercy-seat-for “Sinai is in the sanctuary" (pp). He is as much present here as when the law was given on Sinai. There, though unseen except by the eye of faith, he reigns, more mighty in his angelic heavenly hosts than ever was king with his chariots, so that Israel need no more fear a Jabin with his nine hundred chariots of iron (Judg. iv. 2). An anointed eye, (like his in 2 Kings vi. 27,) might see these hosts in Israel's land at any moment, under the rule of Israel's king. Verse 16. Ascended to Zion, no more wandering from place to place, the Ark is the centre of blessing to Israel-there worshippers Verse 18. get gifts; there daily benefits are dispensed. And in this was typified the Saviour, no more a wanderer on earth from place to place, seated at the Father's right hand, and showering down his gifts on man-the antitype infinitely greater than the type, and his gifts infinitely more spiritual and plentiful (Eph. iii. 8). Here is (ver. 7) a “Selah,” the mark of solemn thought; for herein is a great mystery of love (ver. 19). The words are literally rendered, "Thou hast received gifts among men.' Here is a constr. prægn. for "received, and given out among men (Eph. iv. 18), even among the rebels." And then follows, "At the tabernacling of Jah Elohim" (as ver. 16), that is, at the time when he pitched his tabernacle. But, there is refe * Zalmon is mentioned rather than Hermon, or any other of that northern range, because it is so nearly in the heart of the Land, and near Shechem (Josh. xxiv. 1), where some of the earliest gatherings of Israel took place. Tholuck thinks the allusion to the snow is to its flakes falling on the ground. So fell the ranks of the foe, and their silver ornaments glittered white as they fell. rence 1. To the type on Zion; 2. To the days of his First Coming; 3. To the still future Tabernacling, Rev. xxi. 3. But again let the harp sing of Him who is thus exalted, Verses 21, 22. mighty to save, and mighty to overcome his enemies. Jehovah is "God of our salvation," and "Selah" calls on us to ponder. Then it is repeated, Verse 24. Verse 29. Verse 30. แ The God (of Israel) is God to us, as to salvations. (iyvish) And to Jehovah belong the issues, as to the death" (p). (Ver. 21.) He dashes his foes in pieces, cleaving their hairy scalp from the head from which the helmet has been struck off. Yes, says the Lord, "I will turn him (the foe) back from Bashan, I will turn him back from the depths of the sea." (Ver. 22.) Though they were to make to Moriah--to Solomon's temple. Then see the royal procession (ver. 24), and hear the songs of happy thousands under the reign of that Prince of Peace “Bless ye God in the congregations, And The Lord (in the congregations that are), from the fountain of Israel.” There the gathered tribes are seen; the south sends Benjamin, once "their ruler," (as it sent Saul, 1 Sam. xiv. 7, and so became the conquering tribe) and Judah, their prince, or perhaps "their bulwark."* The north is represented by Zebulon and Naphtali. Thus God has provided strength to them. Gentiles, too, are there (ver. 29). What a type of the latter days, when the true Solomon, Prince of Peace, has come from the Father's right hand to his own throne-from Zionto Moriah! Then, more fully than in the first Solomon's days, it will be sung "He has rebuked the Beast of the Reed, (The hippopotamus, who, like leviathan, is the type of Antichrist.) The assembly of mighty ones (bulls, Psa. xxii. 12), With calves of the nations." (Ver. 30.) These mighty kings and their subjects-bulls and calves-with their leader, are rebuked and destroyed; and along with * Parkhurst refers to Homer's "gxos Axa," as parallel. these, the mammon-worshipper, "who crouches with pieces of silver;" or rather, "He that prostrates himself on pieces of silver." The nations that delight in war are scattered, for it is the reign of the Prince of Peace. Egypt sends princes to Zion, and Ethiopia hastens to submit to God. And thus we are led on to the closing strain-the shout of joy over earth now delivered and put under Jehovah's sway "Ye kingdoms of earth, sing ye to God ! Chant ye to the Lord! Who rideth in the heaven of ancient heaven" (DIP "DU), (i. e., Who claims as his domain the inmost recess of the eternal heaven.) “Lo! he uttereth a mighty voice when he speaketh." (Ver. 33.) Verse 32. He calls on the universe for praise in verse 34. But even in Verse 34, that universal hallelujah there is prominence given to Israel "His majesty is over Israel" (ver. 34), as if Israel's land were the spot of the universe where his manifested glory is to be seen in its peculiar radiance- "God of Israel! thou are a terrible God from thy holy places !" (Ver. 36.) "Giving strength and might to the (peculiar) people! Blessed be God !” Let every soul cry, "Blessed be God !” "Blessed be God!" Let that be the heart cry of earth for evermore. And let it not fail to be ours, while we trace in such a record as this, Messiah's leadings of Israel and the Church from the Wilderness into final Rest. PSALM LXIX. To the chief Musician. Upon Shoshannim. A Psalm of David. 1 SAVE me, O God! for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty : Then I restored that which I took not away. 5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. 6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. |